Okay, now this is just weird. Here's how it works in the NW. You have fringe Liberal enclaves, Seattle, Portland and Eugene. The rest of the NW is pretty right sided. Having the Mayor of Seattle basically declare City State desires is just too weird. They really do believe they are a City State unto themselves. They'll have fun trying to feed themselves with what they fish off the docks.

Ron Paul Revere: That being said, I don't favor this at all. I like the balance our state achieves. Still, I think it'd be hilarious to see the Eastern half secede, join Idaho and form the new state Washaho. Just for laughs.

It's pretty weird that political divide is pretty consistent with urban/rural divide. It's an interesting angle of perception.

Ron Paul Revere: GaryPDX: It's pretty weird that political divide is pretty consistent with urban/rural divide. It's an interesting angle of perception.

Are you saying you really think King County would suffer if it broke off, or that the rest of the state wouldn't?

Or just noting how the both of us see things differently?

I think it would unless trade was established. A LOT of staple foods come from Eastern WA and OR. In a weird feudal world, I think it would. Seattle wouldn't be much good if they couldn't truck out what they're capable of shipping in. Grain, fruit and vegetable products would be pretty expensive coming in by boat.

In an adversarial sense..yes it would suffer. In a trading friendly sense, no.

But to lay siege to uppity city states is interesting business..:)

Ron Paul Revere: In an adversarial sense..yes it would suffer. In a trading friendly sense, no.

But to lay siege to uppity city states is interesting business..:)

The question is, would the newly formed Washaho shoot itself in the foot by refusing to trade with the wacko-leftist enclave of The Peoples Republic of Seattle?

Well..laying siege is kinda fun..:)

Just kidding. As long as each side has it's own space, I don't see a problem.

Seattle does have pretty stadiums though.

I lean right, but I love that city

What, no Shadowrun references?

NW succession website.

Link (new window)

Now is the time for the citizens of Cascadia to demand their freedom from the oppressive governments of Canada and the United States. For too long have our people put up with indifference and condescendence from distant seats of power. We have been subject to francophonic imperialism and wasteful spending of our tax money. Our entrepreneurs have been attacked by the so-called justice system for merely doing their jobs and growing our economy. When will we say enough is enough?

The former American states of Oregon and Washington and the former Canadian province of British Columbia must join together as a sovereign nation. Only then can we have self-determination and take our rightful place in the Global Community.

/I lol'd

tchau: Seattle does have pretty stadiums though.

I lean right, but I love that city

Should have built one more , but thats OK We are going to like watching the Sonics here in Oklahoma next year .

Ok, I am loving this thread. From Tacoma, big kick, yadda, yadda. I wouldn't live in the Peoples Republic of Seattle though, too much noise... I'd probably move to Washaho. Sounds much nicer.

Ron Paul Revere: Still, I think it'd be hilarious to see the Eastern half secede, join Idaho and form the new state Washaho.

Ore-Ida Perpetua

/I believe this qualifies as...
//Obscure

I prefer the Empty Quarter.

Ron Paul Revere: tchau: Seattle does have pretty stadiums though.

As only taxpayers can provide.

What's with the city superiority complex? Seattles wonderful and all, but its really all of washington that makes it such an awesome state. Seriously, 25 miles to a completely different world, and a short trip to Oregon. Nice people everywhere I went.

If Seattle liberals want it, they should pony up and pay for it themselves. You don't need to separate to do that. Since they love taxing and spending so much to begin with since it's SOOOOO european, just tax even more. That's what they are good at.

All of Seattle's and the rest of the country's transport problems would be solved by privatizing all the major highways and shutting down the public schools for five years to build necessary highway, airpot and rail projects. "Oh, but why won't you think of the children? What about healthcare?" Common, it's not like America's kids are learning anything anyway. Our governments spend more per capita on education and healthcare than any other developed nation yet we have the world's dumbest and fatest kids. After 40 years of promises to get better, I thinks that it's time we go back to what we are good at - building huge highway and airport systems with occasional rail for high density areas, protecting private property, and killing foreigners.

How fast can we have troops on the ground in Seattle?

/think that's a joke?
//then you're naive

Islands of blue in a sea of red aren't unique to the West coast.

Megalomaniacal jerkoffs probably aren't either.

I'm quite sure Mitsuhama Computer Technologies would like to see this happen...

I wish one of these "leftist liberal enclaves" would finally go ahead and secede...

...so I can move there.

/lives in a leftist liberal enclave
//surrounded by conservative rednecks who control the state legislature
///feels Seattle's pain

This is the same dumbass who told little kids at Christmas that if they didn't stop global warming, Santa and the reindeer would drown when the ice at the North Pole melts.

Jackass.

You mayer is retarded.

nlscb: we have the world's dumbest and fatest kids.

Yes, we certainly do. Right here on Fark even.

If Seattle liberals want it, they should pony up and pay for it themselves. You don't need to separate to do that. Since they love taxing and spending so much to begin with since it's SOOOOO european, just tax even more. That's what they are good at.

All of Seattle's and the rest of the country's transport problems would be solved by privatizing all the major highways and shutting down the public schools for five years to build necessary highway, airpot and rail projects. "Oh, but why won't you think of the children? What about healthcare?" Common, it's not like America's kids are learning anything anyway. Our governments spend more per capita on education and healthcare than any other developed nation yet we have the world's dumbest and fatest kids. After 40 years of promises to get better, I thinks that it's time we go back to what we are good at - building huge highway and airport systems with occasional rail for high density areas, protecting private property, and killing foreigners.

I'll admit it, I almost bit. You lost me on the closing down schools to build funds part. A good piece of satire, though, you start believable and gradually get more and more ridiculous. I award you one internet.

alex_dularge: You mayer is retarded.

But what about or Mayor, is he ok?

But what about or our Mayor, is he ok?

FTFM

/now who looks retarded?
//that would be me.
///Going to go hang my head in shame.

Has the mayor consulted with the Salish-Sidhe counsel on this though?

bacccc: How fast can we have troops on the ground in Seattle?

Not sure...how fast can they be removed from Iraq to be deployed there?

canyoneer: I prefer the Empty Quarter.

Quebec is it's own category. Amazing.

/Go Foundry!

TMBGfreak: Ron Paul Revere: Still, I think it'd be hilarious to see the Eastern half secede, join Idaho and form the new state Washaho.

Ore-Ida Perpetua

/I believe this qualifies as...
//Obscure

No no it would be obscure if you called it the Northwest Federation and noted that it was bordered on the east by the Five nations of the Mong and traded with the The Maurai Federation to the west.

bacccc: How fast can we have troops on the ground in Seattle?

How about calling in an civilian security firm instead? Bound to be easier, and pretty much MO for warfare these days anyways.

"We have rural legislators making decisions on things like the viaduct and whether we can keep our city safe," Nickels said.

Viaduct?

People will argue for centuries about the causes of secession, but we will all know in our hearts it's because the West wanted to free the SuperSonics, and Seattle wanted to keep them in chains.

Ron Paul Revere: TheGreyPiper: Viaduct?

It's a double-decker, 3-lane (sometimes 4 on the top) bridge that spans the Seattle waterfront. It's old and probably in need of replacement.

Maybe they could follow Boston's example and put the whole thing under ground...

rumpelstiltskin: People will argue for centuries about the causes of secession, but we will all know in our hearts it's because the West wanted to free the SuperSonics, and Seattle wanted to keep them in chains.

Will their descendants call it the War of Eastern Aggression?

Will Fark call it Civil War II: Electric Boogaloo?

Naw alex, he is just shoring up votes. Remember, this is the same district that in order to win, Bagdad Jim had to go to Bagdad to please his base.

szyska: Ron Paul Revere: TheGreyPiper: Viaduct?

It's a double-decker, 3-lane (sometimes 4 on the top) bridge that spans the Seattle waterfront. It's old and probably in need of replacement.

Maybe they could follow Boston's example and put the whole thing under ground...

When I moved away from Seattle a year ago, the Viaduct was supposed to be sceduled for repacement, since it still has earthquake damage. I forget which plan they decided on, but I remember it was the one that was more expensive and offered more kickbacks to Seattle's leadership.

I'm moving to the NW in a couple weeks so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies, etc.

/Carry on

Nickels spokesman Marty McOmber later said the mayor's comments at lunch - such as, "I am serious when I say we ought to talk about independence" - were meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

Jobs I don't want:

1. Politician's spokesman
2. Sewer inspector
3. ??

Texas should secede from the Union--------California should be kicked out.

I applaud this move to secede. If you have legitimate greivances with the government, you should be free to disband it and start anew.

GaryPDX: Ron Paul Revere: That being said, I don't favor this at all. I like the balance our state achieves. Still, I think it'd be hilarious to see the Eastern half secede, join Idaho and form the new state Washaho. Just for laughs.

It's pretty weird that political divide is pretty consistent with urban/rural divide. It's an interesting angle of perception.

The thing is, urban vs. rural is a completely different mindset, not to mention an utterly different day-to-day experience. People living in big cities have concerns that just don't exist in the countryside -- traffic, overpriced housing, etc. -- and vice versa, with things like poor to nonexistent medical facilities, lack of other services, etc.

The fundamental problem I see today is that cities are essentially subsidizing the rest of the country, all over the US. Tax rates aren't indexed for the cost of living, so someone who makes $100K in a big city and has the same standard of living as someone making $50-60K in a small rural town is paying significantly more in tax. This is reinforced by bicameral legislatures -- sure, the House may have something of a balance between urban and rural representatives, but the Senate, and particularly state senates, don't. So rural people end up exercising a lot of control over government that isn't exactly proportional to their actual numbers.

It's just like here in Northern Virginia. Fairfax county gets approximately $0.20 in services on every $1 in taxes it pays to Richmond. Our road infrastructure is crumbling (our traffic is 2nd or 3rd-worst in the country, depending on who you ask), our schools are bursting at the seams...but if all of our tax money was being spent locally, we'd have the best transit & school systems in the world.

Ron Paul Revere: I really, really take great enjoyment when a lefty points out the wisdom of states' rights and bottom-up, locality controlled government and don't even realize it.

I think where the major disagreement lies between you and a 'lefty' is whether or not the aggregated opinions and voting of millions people over a large area can better protect fundamental rights than the local will of the majority. We probably agree on what local government should represent, but I'm more inclined to think that basic human rights should be guaranteed from the top rather than have us have to fight for them constantly on our own.

Please people, STOP MOVING HERE.

/native
//ballard

SnoreCriminal: szyska: Ron Paul Revere: TheGreyPiper: Viaduct?

It's a double-decker, 3-lane (sometimes 4 on the top) bridge that spans the Seattle waterfront. It's old and probably in need of replacement.

Maybe they could follow Boston's example and put the whole thing under ground...

When I moved away from Seattle a year ago, the Viaduct was supposed to be sceduled for repacement, since it still has earthquake damage. I forget which plan they decided on, but I remember it was the one that was more expensive and offered more kickbacks to Seattle's leadership.

They're going under ground then. It was 15 years of hell in Boston but the Central Artery Project is done, so they say. They'll spend the next 20 years fixing all the little things that we're done wrong the first time by some one's brother-in-law.

alex_dularge: You mayer is retarded.

schnarff: Our road infrastructure is crumbling (our traffic is 2nd or 3rd-worst in the country, depending on who you ask),

Erm maybe...but I don't think you're even close to the 8 lane parking lots of LA, Chicago, or NYC

Big dumb jocks beating up the nerdy kids and getting free homework/test answers. It'll be like this forever... until the robot armies are built...

But seriously, he was just ranting. Get over it.

/wants to go to Seattle, hates the sun

Ron Paul Revere: cjoshuav: I wish one of these "leftist liberal enclaves" would finally go ahead and secede...

...so I can move there.

/lives in a leftist liberal enclave
//surrounded by conservative rednecks who control the state legislature
///feels Seattle's pain

I really, really take great enjoyment when a lefty points out the wisdom of states' rights and bottom-up, locality controlled government and don't even realize it.

It's truly sublime.

Deliciously ironic, isn't it? The funny thing is, if there actually was another Civil War in this country, it's entirely possible it could be started by hardcore environmental types or some other far-left group (not to say that fundamentalists trying to break off isn't equally possible, BTW; I'm an equal-opportunity ridiculer).

The one thing that always gets me, though, is how you'd fight a civil war that was urban vs. rural. That whole lack of contiguous territory (except perhaps the DC - Boston corridor) would really foul things up for the cities.

A Seattle secession would be about as successful as a Californian secession.
The mayor compares the area's economy to Thailand, Colombia, and Venezuela. If he doesn't realize that
a) a huge part of that economy's success stems from free trade with 300 million other Americans; and
b)The Seattle area has a standard of living light years ahead of those countries because they are a part of the greater US economy;
he's a complete idiot.

Damn, but I wish that Chicago would do that. I'm tired of those socialist (nearly Stalinist) bastards dictating to the rest of the state.

Espertron: The former American states of Oregon and Washington and the former Canadian province of British Columbia must join together as a sovereign nation. Only then can we have self-determination and take our rightful place in the Global Community.

/I lol'd

Actually, that political arrangement makes more sense in today's world than the current arrangement does. At least as a state or province in a larger US/Canada if not as a sovereign nation.

And besides, if you like Seattle, Vancouver is like Seattle on Steroids. GREAT city.

Back to the article


This is kind of funny to hear a Western WA politician spout the secession line. This is the old Eastern Washington political refrain--"We need to get out from under the thumb of those rich liberals over in Seattle!"

But I have to admit there is one main reason why I have opposed having E. WA split off and form it's own state: I just hate the prospect of having to tell people I went to LSU:



However, if the West Side split off and became Cascadia, then the UW would become the UC, and perhaps they might change their uniforms to something less awful than Purple and Gold.

Forest and Tan perhaps?

Farkn Yaj Yenrac: A Seattle secession would be about as successful as a Californian secession.
The mayor compares the area's economy to Thailand, Colombia, and Venezuela. If he doesn't realize that
a) a huge part of that economy's success stems from free trade with 300 million other Americans; and
b)The Seattle area has a standard of living light years ahead of those countries because they are a part of the greater US economy;
he's a complete idiot.

NAFTA

They'd lose nothing.